# US 12,758,214 B2 · Wiring harness for smart stapler with multi axis articulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,758,214 B2 - Document ID: US12758214B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/379,777 - Filed: 2023-10-13 - Published: 2025-04-17 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-10-13 - Assignees: Cilag GmbH International - Applicants: Cilag GmbH International - Inventors: Shane R. Adams; Matthew D. Cowperthwait; Adam D. Hensel; Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Sarah A. Worthington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758214B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 2017/0069: {with universal joint, cardan joint} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument comprises a shaft, a multi-axis articulation joint assembly defining a cavity therein, and a wiring assembly disposed within the shaft and the multi-axis articulation joint assembly. The multi-axis articulation joint assembly comprises a first articulation joint and a second articulation joint. The wiring assembly comprises a wiring harness having a thickness and a width greater than the thickness, and a preset twist. An articulation joint assembly is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising: a shaft; a multi-axis articulation joint assembly defining a cavity therein, the multi-axis articulation joint assembly comprising: a proximal end; a distal end; a first articulation joint disposed between the proximal end and the distal end; and a second articulation joint distal to the first articulation joint, wherein the first articulation joint is configured to move in a first articulation plane, and wherein the second articulation joint is configured to move in a second articulation plane transverse to the first articulation plane; and a wiring assembly disposed within the shaft and the multi-axis articulation joint assembly, the wiring assembly comprising a wiring harness extending through the cavity of the articulation joint assembly, wherein the wiring harness has a thickness and a width greater than the thickness, wherein the wiring harness comprises: a proximal flat portion that spans the first articulation joint in a non-articulated state; a distal flat portion that spans the second articulation joint in the non-articulated state; and a preset twist between the proximal flat portion and the distal flat portion, wherein the preset twist biases the distal flat portion into a different orientation than the proximal flat portion, in the non-articulated state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a retainer nested in the shaft, the retainer comprising a channel defined in an outer surface of the retainer, wherein the channel is to guide the wiring assembly toward the multi-axis articulation joint assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the preset twist spans a longitudinal distance between the first articulation joint and the second articulation joint. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the wiring harness comprises a plurality of conductors, a plurality of layers, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the plurality of conductors are arranged in the plurality of layers to minimize electromagnetic interference. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the width of the wiring harness at the proximal flat portion extends along a first bending plane intersecting the first articulation plane and the width of the wiring harness at the distal flat portion extends along a second bending plane intersecting the second articulation plane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the preset twist defines an angle corresponding to a rotational offset between the first articulation joint and the second articulation joint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the preset twist is maintained throughout a full range of motion of the multi-axis articulation joint assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the preset twist is integrated into the wiring harness prior to assembling the surgical instrument. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the proximal flat portion comprises a first orientation in the non-articulated state such that, in the articulated state, a first bend radius of the proximal flat portion extends through the thickness of the wiring harness at the proximal flat portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the distal flat portion comprises a second orientation in the non-articulated state such that, in the articulated state, a second bend radius of the distal flat portion extends through the thickness of the wiring harness at the distal flat portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the proximal flat portion is aligned with the first articulation joint such that the proximal flat portion bends without twisting in the articulated state, and wherein the distal flat portion is aligned with the second articulation joint such that the distal flat portion bends without twisting in the articulated state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the wiring harness remains unstretched during a full range of articulation of the articulation joint assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein a length of the wiring harness between the proximal end and the distal end remains unchanged during the full range of articulation of the articulation joint assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein, in the non-articulated state, the wiring harness in the cavity spans the first articulation joint and the second articulation joint without a separate biasing member. ### Claim 16 An articulation joint assembly for a surgical instrument, the articulation joint assembly comprising: a multi-axis articulation joint assembly defining a cavity therein, the multi-axis articulation joint assembly comprising: a proximal end; a distal end; a first articulation joint disposed between the proximal end and the distal end; and a second articulation joint distal to the first articulation joint, wherein the first articulation joint is configured to move in a first articulation plane, and wherein the second articulation joint is configured to move in a second articulation plane transverse to the first articulation plane; and a wiring assembly disposed within the multi-axis articulation joint assembly, the wiring assembly comprising a wiring harness extending through the cavity of the articulation joint assembly, wherein the wiring harness has a thickness and a width greater than the thickness, wherein the wiring harness comprises: a proximal flat portion that spans the first articulation joint in a non-articulated state; a distal flat portion that spans the second articulation joint in the non-articulated state; and a preset twist between the proximal flat portion and the distal flat portion, wherein the preset twist biases the distal flat portion into a different orientation than the proximal flat portion, in the non-articulated state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The articulation joint assembly of claim 16, wherein the preset twist spans a longitudinal distance between the first articulation joint and the second articulation joint. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The articulation joint assembly of claim 16, wherein the width of the wiring harness at the proximal flat portion extends along a first bending plane intersecting the first articulation plane and the width of the wiring harness at the distal flat portion extends along a second bending plane intersecting the second articulation plane. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The articulation joint assembly of claim 16, wherein the preset twist is integrated into the wiring harness prior to assembling the surgical instrument. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The articulation joint assembly of claim 19, wherein the preset twist is molded into the wiring harness prior to assembling the surgical instrument.